Component-Based Servicing

02/02/2010

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Applies To: Windows Server 2008

Component-Based Servicing (CBS) is part of the servicing stack. The servicing stack is a set of files and resources that are required to service a Windows image or operating system. The servicing stack is available on all Windows Vista and Windows Server 2008 installations, as well as in the Windows Automated Installation Kit AIK (Windows AIK) and the Windows OEM Preinstallation Kit (Windows OPK). CBS provides various APIs (which are not publicly available) to its client installers to service the operating system components. Client installers such as Windows Update or Windows Installer work with CBS to enumerate, install, update, and uninstall component packages on the destination operating system. CBS interacts with the Component Servicing Infrastructure to perform the necessary system changes.